July rainfall 200 percent above normal

July 23, 2013

PARKERSBURG -The Mid-Ohio Valley has seen a lot of rain over the last few weeks, but it's only slightly above average for the year, according to the National Weather Service.

Kevin McGrath, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Charleston, said the area is having a wet year - particularly a wet July.

"We are running a little bit behind last year but above normal for the month so far," McGrath said. "With the conditions we have seen over the past three or four weeks with afternoon thunderstorms, we are well ahead of normal values for this time of year."

Article Photos

Photos by Jody MurphyThe area has seen a lot of rain this month, more than 200 percent above normal, according to meteorologists from the National Weather Service. The area typically sees about 2.8 inches of rain in July. So far this month the area has seen a flood-inducing 6.52 inches of rain.

Photo by Jody MurphyAbove average rainfall for July keeps local parking lots covered with puddles.

McGrath said the area typically sees about 2.8 inches of rain in July. So far this month the area has seen a flood-inducing 6.52 inches of rain.

"It's almost 200 percent ahead," McGrath said. Area rainfall amounts have really picked up since June 26.

"Since June 26 through July 12 was a wet spell where we saw some form of precipitation almost everyday," he said. "It has been raining pretty consistently with at least one inch or more.

"Add the numbers up month by month and we are almost double for July.

The weather service issued a flash flood watch for the area Monday night. A cold front moving into the area will dry things out, but more rain could be in the forecast for the weekend, McGrath said.

Despite the large amount of rainfall this month, McGrath said the Mid-Ohio Valley is still only slightly ahead of yearly averages. Since Jan. 1, the area has gauged 25.25 inches of rain. McGrath said the norm is 23.78 inches.

The average yearly rainfall for this area is around 43 inches.On average, the world has been getting more precipitation than 100 years ago, about 6 percent more in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"It happens from time to time; wet and dry spells. We are still within the standard deviation," McGrath said.

"We live in an area of the country where precipitation values are generally even throughout the year. We don't necessarily have a wet season and a dry season."